The UFC is finally returning to the Land of the Rising Sun. After an eleven year absence from Japan, they will re-emerge on the scene with
UFC 144 on February 25th in the Saitama Super Arena. The UFC announced this week that there will be seven fights on the main card, which will cost the same and kick off at the usual time (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT). Four of the prelim fights will air on FX, with one being streamed live on Facebook.
The main event will see
Frankie Edgar defend his UFC lightweight title against former WEC lightweight champ
Ben Henderson. In the co-main,
Quinton "Rampage" Jackson will look to return to the win column when he faces TUF 8 winner
Ryan Bader. Along with that, there will be a plethora of bouts featuring the best Japanese fighters in the UFC.
Yoshihiro Akiyama will make his welterweight debut against
Jake Shields,
Hatsu Hioki will continue his march to a featherweight title shot when he takes on
Bart Palaszewski, and much more. Here's the card as it stands right now (prelims after the jump):
Feb 25th, live on pay-per-view from Saitama, Japan:
Preliminary Card:
Takeya Mizugaki (15-6-2) vs. Chris Cariaso (12-3)
Norifumi Yamamoto (18-5, 1 NC) vs. Vaughan Lee (11-7-1)
Riki Fukuda (17-5) vs. Steve Cantwell (7-5)
Takanori Gomi (32-8, 1 NC) vs. Eiji Mitsuoka (18-7-2)
Tiequan Zhang (15-2) vs. Issei Tamura (6-2)
...
Sugel Mendoza - February 16, 2012
Awesome card!
Sweet Scientist - February 16, 2012
Stacked!!
will be purchasing fo sho
ogk - February 16, 2012
This card likely won't have a high PPV buyrate
But I don’t give a shit, this is one of the best cards the UFC has ever put on.
Pettis vs. Lauzon is going to be insane.
SSreporters - February 16, 2012
It's in Japan
You could have GSP on the card and it wouldn’t do great numbers
discoandherpes - February 17, 2012
I would pay a lot of money to hear "Konnichiwa bitches" on this broadcast
SSreporters - February 16, 2012
Depends on how high Rogan gets.
Japanese weed is some dangerous stuff.
McKinley B. Noble - February 17, 2012
Who else going with darth?
Afrotikiman - February 16, 2012 via mobile
No one.
SSreporters - February 16, 2012
I am. Rampage lost his motivation. Bader is young and hungry.
TheLastEmpress - February 16, 2012
And quits in the face of adversity
Rampage TKO2
halitosis - February 16, 2012 via mobile
This
Pulling guard on Jon Jones is a desperation move for someone who has nothing for a superior fighter.
SSreporters - February 16, 2012
You know what...
I’m going to say it… Rampage retires if he loses to Bader.
Not Hauser - February 17, 2012
I was just watching that fight the other day and I don’t even think Bader pulled guard, it looked like he fell on his own because he was scared of what Jones was going to do to him.
Meek Mill - February 17, 2012
Yeah I don’t think he meant to do it either. Just an awkward failed takedown attempt
Horselover Fat - February 17, 2012
Rampage is the better wrestler and better striker
discoandherpes - February 17, 2012
Dunno if he's just playing it up
But Rampage has been drilling it home that he’s so happy he gets to fight in Japan again,he doesn’t want to lose there
WanderChe - February 17, 2012
EVERYBODY STOP DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND READ
Jeremy Lin. Blake Griffin. Shaq’s team. Rookie/Sophmore game
sun yue - February 16, 2012
Word
Afrotikiman - February 16, 2012 via mobile
Barkley chose
John Wall, Cousins and Kyrie Irving.
Shaq’s team is going to rape Barkley’s.
av1o3 - February 16, 2012
Screw the NBA
College is where it’s at.
SSreporters - February 16, 2012
Screw
the NBAbasketballCollegeMMA is where it’s at.Chris Hall - February 16, 2012
LINSANITY = BENSATION
sun yue - February 16, 2012
yeah but that's not even a real thing tho..
RolloTomasi - February 16, 2012
Linston Churchill begs to differ
sun yue - February 16, 2012
Is this racist?
I figure you would know.
This is real btw.
RolloTomasi - February 16, 2012
Wow
AusEagle - February 17, 2012
HA.
Someone needs to give that headline editor a raise.
McKinley B. Noble - February 17, 2012
It's more lame than anything
sun yue - February 17, 2012
how about this?
merryprankster - February 17, 2012
Hioki
is gonna eat Bart.
RolloTomasi - February 16, 2012
I hope so.
So that Aldo can smash Hioki in the title fight.
SSreporters - February 16, 2012
Whatever
I think okam….hioki is the kryptonite to sil…. aldo.
cager - February 17, 2012
I see Hioki getting the takedown and winning on top control and possibly a submission finish. I don’t remember Bart really having that good of takedown defense. I hope that Hioki throws some elbows on top though, unlike what he did against Roop. On the feet though, Bart is pretty dangerous.
chrisbboy82 - February 17, 2012
So stoked for this card
I honestly can’t remember a better one. UFC 100, maybe?
Buddy Revell - February 16, 2012 via mobile
SICK
Looking forward to an atypically-quiet UFC crowd
mburtoni - February 16, 2012
USA USA USA!
Not Hauser - February 16, 2012 via mobile
I mean...
Quiet applause when someone passes from full guard to half guard.
Not Hauser - February 16, 2012 via mobile
And the creshando of applause that accompanies a knockdown or slam
mburtoni - February 16, 2012
If Akiyama wins this fight I will shed tears of joy.
savik - February 16, 2012
If he loses and isn't cut
I wonder who they’ll give him next. Ellenberger? GSP?
Tats16 - February 16, 2012
Probably GSP
Then if he trains hard enough and manages to squeak out a loss against him he could be looking at a title shot again Jones.
Not Hauser - February 16, 2012
I will work diligently to troll every motherfucker who is a fan of Shields if Sexy somehow manages to get this victory.
savik - February 16, 2012
Shields has fans?
ThatsHowIRoll - February 17, 2012
I think a strong base and not shit striking wins him the decision
Let’s face it, UFC Shields is really not that good.
halitosis - February 16, 2012 via mobile
His competition was decent but not elite in Strikeforce, he hasn’t looked particularly good against Kampmann, GSP or Ellenberger. I still don’t think he will lose this one though
AHutch - February 16, 2012
I agree
Akiyama was gassing at 185, I think his cardio after a cut to 170 would suffer quite a bit.
Chris Groves - February 17, 2012
Or he actually shows up lighter and in better shape
Hard to predict.
discoandherpes - February 17, 2012
Dude's got two rounds on GSP, I wish I was that bad
WanderChe - February 17, 2012
I just rewatched that fight
and the only thing that had 2 rounds on GSP were his middle and index fingers. Those were some incredibly unimpressive round wins. His terrible striking somehow worked in his favor as he amateurishly gouged out George’s eye with open hand strikes.
Not Hauser - February 17, 2012 via mobile
Yeah, knocked down by a head kick and taken down by GSP in round 4. No way Shields won that round.
Hardcharger - February 17, 2012 via mobile
Henderson by RNC 4th
in what will probably be FOTN. Every fight is interesting besides Cantwell haha
NEW-HAMPSHIRE - February 16, 2012
I think Bendo latches on a medieval guillotine in the second
And Frankie fights it like a caged animal until he shuts down.
halitosis - February 16, 2012 via mobile
Is it just me
or would this main card seem way stronger if it was just the top 5 fights? Not complaining, just find it odd.
shanktark - February 16, 2012
Its just you
jammin.. - February 16, 2012
Palaszewski looked his best against Griffin
I don’t think Hioki dominates Bart, but I think he’ll squeak by kinda like he did against Roop.
This is a tough matchup for Hioki, if he wins he should fight the winner of Poirier/Sung Jung to determine the next challenger to Aldo’s belt
The KO Kid - February 16, 2012 via mobile
Man, how far has Tyson Griffin dropped?
Perfect example of someone who never evolved as a fighter over the years. Dude looked like he had such a bright future after the Edgar and Guida fights and now he’s getting KTFO’d.
SSreporters - February 16, 2012
I'm assuming the winner of Pettis-Lauzon get's a title shot.
Henderson-Pettis II? Yes, please.
TooLegitToQuit - February 16, 2012
War WEC!
TooLegitToQuit - February 16, 2012
probably only if Pettis wins
Our Bovine Public - February 16, 2012
No way Pettis/Lauzon winner gets a title shot
SSreporters - February 16, 2012
Barring injury to the winner of Diaz/Miller
I agree
Chris Hall - February 16, 2012
I would have liked to see Nate fight the winner for a shot.
I don’t like the Miller fight in terms of relevancy
ThatsHowIRoll - February 17, 2012
I think that leaves the winner of Bendo/Edgar on the shelf for too long
Chris Hall - February 17, 2012
Good point.
I guess I just dont like the idea of Miller potentially de-railing Diaz when he already got trucked by Bendo.
ThatsHowIRoll - February 17, 2012
That's a good point, and you might be right that Lauzon/Pettis gets it if Diaz loses
But they’ll probably hold off on the fight announcement until after Diaz/Miller
Chris Hall - February 17, 2012
Yep probably the plan..
Also I thought a Diaz/Lauzon fight would have been crazy but I guess if Nate beats Miller he’s well and truly ready for the shot. If Miller wins, meh, they burned a contender in Diaz. Can’t have it all I guess
ThatsHowIRoll - February 17, 2012
Pretty much
Although Diaz is young and talented and a loss to Miller won’t hold him back for long.
Chris Hall - February 17, 2012
Yeah I really hate in when two top ranked fighters
match up to see who will be next to fight for the title in their weightclass
mjanecek - February 17, 2012
Do you really want to put the winner of Henderson/Edgar on the shelf until September/October?
TooLegitToQuit - February 17, 2012
Then who?
TooLegitToQuit - February 17, 2012
SO hyped for this card.
Rob Young - February 16, 2012
This is basically two good cards mashed together:
There’s two solid main event fights, followed by two solid co-main event fights in shields/akiyama and probably pettis/lauzon, then top notch filler for the rest. I’m excited.
Mark Hunt Heavyweight Champion 2013!!!
Not Hauser - February 16, 2012
Champions from the UFC, Strikeforce, EliteXC, Pride, K-1, WEC, and Sengoku on this card.
Goddamn.
BVandDietPepsi - February 16, 2012
+ a TUF winner!
mburtoni - February 16, 2012
Oh, no one cares about that.
:|
McKinley B. Noble - February 17, 2012
For those wondering
UFC – Frankie Edgar, Rampage(former)
Strikeforce – Jake Shields(185)
EliteXC – Jake Shields (170)
Pride – Takanori Gomi(LW)
K1 – Mark Hunt(2001 GP winner)
WEC – Henderson and Pettis, both LW
Sengoku – Hioki(145)
TUF winner – Bader(season 8)
Lots of ‘names’ on this card
Chris Groves - February 17, 2012
Also
Cantwell was a WEC LHW champ
Gomi was Shooto WW champ
Riki Fukuda was a DEEP MW champ
Misugaki was a Cage Force BW champ
Akiyama won a K-1 Hero’s LHW GP
Yamamoto won a K-1 Hero’s LW GP
Shields won a ROTR WW Tourney
Tim Burke - February 17, 2012
Stacked stackedy stacked stacked stacked
Chris Groves - February 17, 2012
Please check out my promo:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceOA0Bh4vEE
It won’t disappoint…
Thanks!
CanuckForever - February 16, 2012
If Mark Hunt pulls it off next weekend
Does he get a top contender fight? Because we already saw him get his arm ripped off by Overeem and hate to think what JDS would do to him. Him winning puts the UFC in a wierd position.
MattParker117 - February 16, 2012
Could say the same for Ben
Afrotikiman - February 16, 2012 via mobile
Any Heavyweight beating Kongo generally means that person gets to fight top competition in the UFC Heavyweight Division as Kongo is their gatekeeper to the top of the division. If Hunt wins, then he should get a fight against someone high up there like a Mir, Werdum, Velasquez, etc. I don’t really think that Hunt winning would put the UFC in a weird position.
chrisbboy82 - February 17, 2012
Cheik Kongo about to get ran through...
Can’t fade SuperHunt, UFC champion 2013
Tedd Welch - February 17, 2012
psychosamoan?
Chris Groves - February 17, 2012
Wow dont know if the fights will be as promising as they look, but the poster is the best i ve seen in a long time! Japanese designer?
alibabarouge - February 16, 2012
War Hunt!
I’m thinking 1st round flying heel hook sub
clayguidashair - February 16, 2012
So many interesting match-ups
it boggles the mind.
UncleMax - February 16, 2012
Sigh
Cant believe they hoed me out of Okami/Boestch
Full Mount - February 16, 2012
SO STACKED!!!
darkotto23 - February 16, 2012
Drink Up!
People on the east coast better drink about 10 cups of coffee cause by the time the main event hits it’ll be about 1:50am…….
evenflow10 - February 16, 2012 via mobile
they're fighting in the morning in Japan
so that they’re fighting at a reasonable time here
Full Mount - February 16, 2012
Seven card PPV starting at 10pm EST. Evenflow isn't that far off in his estimate.
Chris Hall - February 16, 2012
Who would stay up late on a Saturday night? That's just crazy talk!
BuiltForAnnoyance - February 16, 2012
Easy Peezy
winner of Bader/Rampage.
Chael2012P4Pno1 - February 16, 2012
For those who are picking Kongo
Mark Hunt had side control.
Think about that.
Hunt is known in his circles as Runt Gracie.
SSreporters - February 16, 2012
I'm picking him
And I don’t care
halitosis - February 16, 2012 via mobile
Scared?..... Me too
ThatsHowIRoll - February 17, 2012
Pat Barry almost knocked the wheels off Kongo
Hunt could easily do the same thing. Kongo also waited two rounds to shoot on Mitrione.
discoandherpes - February 17, 2012
Okami always getting hosed
Always the p4p undercard king.
Bloodsport - February 16, 2012 via mobile
That's weird, because I see his fight listed as "main card".
SSreporters - February 16, 2012
It's a 7 fight main card
Chris Hall - February 16, 2012
This card is unbelievably stacked. I hope Frankie pulls it off, his incredible heart in the Maynard fights really won me over
jammin.. - February 16, 2012
love this card.
This is the kind of card I don’t mind plunking down the dough on for the PPV and speaking with my dollars for. I just go to the bar for the weaker cards.
Rob Young - February 17, 2012 via mobile
bendo
rampage
hunt
sexyama
pettis
boesch
palaszewski
yup there it is
mattsterguy - February 17, 2012
Well...
You got a few right…
I’m going
Edgar
Bader
Hunt
shields
Pettis
Okami
bartamus
TheIrishLemon - February 17, 2012 via mobile
most stacked card ever?
Maybe not, but it looks damn good.
Dreaded - February 17, 2012 via mobile
7 fights, that's pretty awesome.
Chris Groves - February 17, 2012
Not a real stacked card c’mon now. Rampage vs Bader is a stupid fight, Bader gets his first loss to Jones goes on to get choked out by Tito, fights some fat bum in prelims then gets Rampage who is still (in my mind) a legit top 5 or top 10 light heavyweight. I wish Forrest could have just sucked it up and made the travel one more time to make this card good because Rampage vs. Bader ruins it for me. Hell Rampage vs. Henderson 2 would have been good.
Meek Mill - February 17, 2012
Come on. One fight is really changing your mind about the whole card?
chrisbboy82 - February 17, 2012
Frankie Edgar saves this card for me.
Meek Mill - February 17, 2012
I assume you're unaware that the 'fat bum'
Beat (in most peoples eyes) a top 15 lhw in lil nog.
MJB! - February 17, 2012 via mobile
Yeah cause you know the 7 fights on the main card are ruined since Bader is fighting Rampage. This card is awesome, even the prelims are still pretty nice. As a Bader fan I hope he knocks out Rampage, that’s really the only way to make up or the loss to Tito
Sonnens Political Adviser - February 17, 2012 via mobile
Totally agree...
I’d love to Rampage get KO’d… I like Rampage, but I just wanna see him KO’d. That is all.
Atomic Salmon - February 17, 2012
agreed
Chris Groves - February 17, 2012
Incredible card!
Is it weird that I’m most excited for the Hunt fight?
Peter Nathaniel Fury - February 17, 2012
One friendly suggestion for Tim Burke
If you look at the images in the post, you can see the difference in quality when you get to the Akiyama vs. Shields fight.
To fix it, change the URL to the image from “smallThumbnail.png” to “mediumThumbnail.png” and you get better quality ;)
ellioman - February 17, 2012
You must Login with your SB Nation account and be a member of Bloody Elbow to post a comment.